A Country Has Started to Reopen Its Economy As About 50% of Its Population is Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Just last year, the coronavirus hit the world like a truck.

But now, we fight back with vaccines, which all Singaporeans will likely be offered from April 2021 onwards.

Unless of course, you’re part of certain subgroups that should avoid the vaccine.

In other countries, the vaccination rates have also been going well enough that they’ve slowly begun to reopen.

A Country Has Started to Reopen Its Economy As About 50% of Its Population is Vaccinated Against COVID-19

It’s always a positive sign when such a huge step forward can be taken.

CNA reported that on Sunday (Feb 21) Israel has started reopening places like malls and leisure facilities.

This is because around half the country has already been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Vaccines and those who’ve recovered with proven immunity will have a “Green Pass” displayed on their Health Ministry app.

They could prove their status by presenting a vaccination certificate or showing their medical files by linking them to the app.

This would allow access to places like gyms and theatres, though shops would remain open to everyone regardless.

As of now, Israel has administered at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine to over 45 per cent of its 9 million population.

The even better news is that the two-shot regimen has reduced COVID-19 infections by 95.8 per cent.

Moving To A Better 2021

Still, that doesn’t mean the country is letting up.

Even with the gradual reopening, mask-wearing and social-distancing were still enforced and dancing was not allowed at banquet halls.

Places of worship were required to halve their normal congregation sizes too.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even tweeted that their country was the first to ‘revive itself’ thanks to the vaccines.

“Vaccinated? Get the Green Pass and get back to life.”

אנחנו המדינה הראשונה בעולם שחוזרת לחיים בזכות מיליוני החיסונים שהבאנו. התחסנתם? קבלו את התו הירוק וחיזרו לחיים. לא התחסנתם? לכו להתחסן! pic.twitter.com/hqpBxcZGLN

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) February 20, 2021

Elementary schoolers and students in the last two years of high school resumed classes in towns with contagion rates under control.

Middle-school pupils are currently still home-learning, though they will likely resume school next month.

However, some felt that this was unfair, saying that it didn’t make sense to open malls while middle-schoolers couldn’t go back.

Hoping To Avoid Fourth Lockdown

As of this writing, Israel has roughly 750,000 COVID-19 cases, with more than 5,500 virus-related deaths.

The numbers have also prompted criticism of the government, especially after the country has gone through three national lockdowns.

They have since pledged that a fourth will not happen.

However, a physician in charge of the country’s pandemic response has said that it was still a possibility since only half of the nation is vaccinated.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, Indonesia, those who refuse the vaccine (if they can be vaccinated), will be fined roughly S$474.

You can read more about it here.

Feature Image: Shutterstock.com / Fotokon